The number one question I get about my Poldina shade covers isn't about color. It's "which lamp do I have?" Zafferano makes the Poldina in five or six sizes now, the names are nearly identical, and the lamps themselves don't say which one they are anywhere you'd think to look. So before you buy a shade cover from me or anyone else, here's the two-minute version of who fits what.
The Short Answer
Measure the widest part of the shade. If it's about 4.3 inches across, you have a Poldina Pro or a Poldina Pro Mini, and they take the same shade covers. If it's about 2.75 inches across, you have a Poldina Pro Micro, which takes its own smaller shades. If it's bigger than your hand, you have a Poldina L, XXL, or the floor lamp, and you're shopping in a different category entirely.
| Lamp | Height | Shade diameter | Battery | Fits my covers? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poldina Pro | 15" (38 cm) | 4.33" (11 cm) | About 12 hours | Yes |
| Poldina Pro Mini | 11.8" (30 cm) | 4.33" (11 cm) | About 12 hours | Yes |
| Poldina Pro Micro | 10.8" (27.5 cm) | 2.76" (7 cm) | About 6 to 7 hours | No |
| Poldina L / XXL / Floor | Larger | Larger | Varies | No |
Dimensions from Zafferano America's product pages as of September 2026. Always measure your own lamp; finishes and older versions can vary slightly.
Pro vs. Pro Mini: Same Shade, Different Stem
This is the one that trips people up, and it's good news. The Poldina Pro and the Pro Mini have the same 4.33-inch shade and the same base. The only difference is the stem: the Pro stands about 15 inches tall, the Mini about 12. So every shade cover that fits a Pro fits a Mini, including Zafferano's own Graphic and Lido shades and all twenty-two covers in my Poldina Lamp Shades collection.
Which one should you own? For a dining table I prefer the Mini. The shorter stem keeps the light below eye level when you're seated, which is more flattering and doesn't block the person across from you. The full-size Pro is better on a console, a bar, or a nightstand, where you want the light a little higher. A lot of my clients end up with both, and the nice thing is the covers swap between them.
The Micro Is Its Own Thing
The Poldina Pro Micro is the little one, about 10.8 inches tall with a shade only 2.76 inches across. It's charming on a bar cart or a bathroom counter, and the battery is shorter (six to seven hours versus twelve for the Pro). But the shade is a completely different size, so nothing made for the Pro will fit it. Zafferano sells a Micro Lido ceramic shade and a Micro wicker shade, and Serena & Lily has a fabric cover for it. My covers won't work on a Micro, and I'd rather say so plainly than have you order one and be disappointed.
How Slip-On Covers Actually Work
A Poldina shade cover isn't a replacement shade. It's a sleeve. The Poldina's original white polycarbonate shade stays exactly where it is, and the cover slides down over it and sits on the shade's own rim, held by friction and its slightly tapered shape. My paper and cotton covers measure 3.75 inches tall, 4.5 inches across the bottom, and 3.5 inches across the top, which is just enough room to slide over the 4.33-inch shade and settle. No adhesive, no clips, no tools.
Because the original shade stays on, the light still passes through it first and then through the cover, so a marbled paper cover glows evenly instead of showing hot spots. It also means you can take the cover off in two seconds and the lamp is back to stock, which matters if you're renting a house or borrowing lamps from a friend.
Mistakes I See Constantly
Buying for the wrong model. Someone has a Micro, sees a pretty cover "for the Poldina," orders it, and it's twice too big. Measure first. A tape measure across the widest part of the shade settles it.
Trying to remove the original shade. Don't. The white shade is part of the lamp, and the LED sits directly under it. Covers go over the shade, never in place of it.
Forcing a cover on. If it doesn't slide down easily, stop and check the size. A paper cover will crease if you push, and a crease is permanent.
Leaving paper out in weather. The Poldina itself is rated IP65 and can live outdoors. A paper cover cannot. Covered porch, yes. Rainstorm, no. Bring it in with the cushions.
Buying one. I say this in every post about these lamps: one dressed Poldina looks like an accident, four look like a plan.
How to Measure a Shade You Already Have
Take the shade or the whole lamp and measure straight across the bottom opening at its widest, edge to edge. That's the diameter, and it's the only number that really matters for fit. Then measure the height of the shade from bottom rim to top. A Pro or Mini shade will come in around 4.3 by 3.5 inches; a Micro around 2.75 by 2.5. If you're buying a cover from another maker, look for a listed bottom diameter of about 4.5 inches for a Pro or Mini. Anything under 4.25 won't slide on.
Poldina Shade Fit: Your Questions, Answered
Do Poldina Pro shade covers fit the Pro Mini?
Yes. The Pro and Pro Mini share the same 4.33-inch shade, so any cover made for one fits the other. Only the stem height is different.
Do Poldina Pro covers fit the Micro?
No. The Micro's shade is 2.76 inches across, well under the Pro's 4.33 inches. The Micro needs its own smaller shades.
Do I remove the original white shade to use a cover?
No. The cover slips over the original shade and stays in place by friction. The white shade stays on the lamp.
Can I use a paper shade cover outdoors?
On a covered porch or patio, yes. Not in rain or heavy dew. Bring paper and cotton covers inside when the weather turns. Zafferano's wicker or ceramic shades are the better choice for a lamp that lives outside full time.
What size is a Poldina Pro lamp shade?
The shade on the Poldina Pro and Pro Mini is about 4.33 inches (11 cm) in diameter. Slip-on covers made for it are typically about 4.5 inches across the bottom and 3.75 inches tall.
Will a cover dim the light?
A little, and pleasantly. Paper covers let most of the light through and glow with the pattern; cotton covers diffuse it a bit more. If you need maximum brightness for reading, take the cover off. For dinner, the softer light is the whole point.
Once You Know Your Lamp
If you've got a Pro or a Mini, you're in luck, because that's the size with the most options, and it's the size I make covers for. Browse all twenty-two hand-marbled and block-printed patterns in my Poldina Lamp Shades collection, and if you want my opinion on which ones go where, I ranked every real option for dressing a Poldina in The Best Shades for the Poldina Pro.
